ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS

We aim to bring together scholars, administrators, policy makers and concerned individuals from different backgrounds and disciplines to discuss issues impacted by culture, in an open and relaxed atmosphere. The deliberations at this meetings provide important inputs to the planning of the Centre's programmes.

September -- Beijing, China
Culture and the Future
This meeting gathered many leading Chinese scholars of history and philosophy, to explore the direction of the current concern and research in cultural topics. It also explored the nature of the responses, from a Chinese cultural perspective, to a rapidly integrating world.

November -- Singapore
Sustainable Development
This meeting explored the true meaning of development, and attempted to critique the present mode of development from the standpoint of human welfare in the long term. It questioned the sustainability of the current speed of development, and noted the more and more violent swings as societies and economies make reactive adjustments. The meeting also deliberated on how long term 'development' can be sustained.


April -- Singapore
In Search of a Universal Ethics
This discussion explored the key underlying concepts of the world's major religions and traditions, and attempted to find the common ground upon which to build a set of universal ethics. The meeting also grappled with the concepts of right and wrong, and how these have been distorted through narrow interpretations of the ideas of democracy, human rights and equality resulting from political correctness.

May -- Shekou, China
On the Objective of
the East West Cultural Development Centre
This meeting discussed the possible role which the EWCDC can play in helping to build better human relationships in a rapidly integrating world. The meeting tried to identify efforts made by other similar organisations. From this meeting, we clarified how our role as businessmen can provide a unique angle from which we can view issues and offer solutions.

September -- Wuhan, China
On the Publication of three books:
"Development in Perspective"
"Universal Ethics" and
"History of Management"
This meeting brought together the writers of the three books to discuss a unified approach to the writing. The writers exchanged insights and ideas, drawing from their main area of discipline, and established the books' outlines.


June -- Wuhan, China
Second Discussion on the writing of "Development in Perspective"
This meeting reviewed the progress of the book.


March -- Singapore
The Impact of Economics and Culture
Held at the threshold of the Asian financial crisis, this meeting aptly looked into the inter-relationship between culture and economics. It looked into the nature of the severe competition that grew out of the free market system, and how it affects planning for the long term. It also looked at the role of money in distancing economic decisions from moral choices.